POST-GAME
This year’s Ultimini Championship game was undoubtedly the best simulation football game I’ve ever seen. I mean it was also one of the only games I’ve ever seen, but it kept me on the edge of my seat and provided fans with great offensive and defensive plays, along with an exciting overtime ending.
The game began with the Tijuana Luchadores’ quarterback Corvo Havran leading the team down the field. Some accurate throws along with an untimely unnecessary roughness call against the Kansas City Coyotes defense led to a first-possession touchdown. The Luchadores defense then stepped up, forcing a three-and-out with a great pass break-up by Con Nair on a short third down throw. The Luchadores didn’t let the opportunity to go up big in the first pass them by, with Havran throwing a bomb to Brett Tacony, and then punching the ball in with Phillip Davis. The Luchadores ended the first quarter up 14-0.
The second quarter began with the first memorable play for any Kansas City fan, a 37-yard catch and run by Django Anoa’i. This set the team up for a short touchdown throw by Rose Jenkins. Suddenly, it seemed we had a game on our hands. However, the Luchadores would quickly crush any glimmer of hope that appeared with a methodical 8-minute drive capped off by a 5-yard Zozo Roronoa touchdown run. Kansas City looked to put some points on the board before the half, but after a three-and-out, along with calling a timeout after being sacked on third down, it was Tijuana who had enough time on the clock to out up another three points to close the half. It seemed like the game was all but over as the teams headed into the tunnel, with the Luchadores up 24-7.
The third quarter could hardly have gone better if you were rooting for Kansas City. After a quick first-possession touchdown due to some solid running from Corwin Davenport, the Coyotes got a timely interception from safety Cam Poole. The resulting short field led to a second touchdown and a one possession game going into the fourth.
The final quarter was a battle of wills, with three huge defensive red-zone stands. It was a great example of bend but don’t break defensive playing from both sides, with key defensive plays from Stayve Jerome Thomas and Johnny Slothface keeping each team out of the end zone. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, a missed game-tying field goal attempt by the Thighmaster, Alfredo Crisco, led to the Luchadores having the ball with 4 minutes left. A great three and out let Crisco get one last shot at the end of the game, and this time the Thighmaster came through, tying the game at 27-27 and sending us to overtime.
Kansas City won the toss and received the ball first, however the offense stalled and after three plays Crisco was back on the field, this time to punt. The Luchadores didn’t let the fact that they almost blew a 17-point lead bother them, and after some solid catches by Knute Knurtsson found themselves in easy field goal range. A 35-yard field goal from Stephen Harris Jr sealed the victory for the Luchadores, their fourth Ultimini Championship.
That Magic Moment
Again, from the Ultimini Championship game, the most magic moment was the final minute field goal by the Kansas City Coyotes to tie the game at 27 and send it to overtime. Kansas City didn’t go on to win the game, but in that moment, I don’t know if a fan in the stadium or at home didn’t have absolute love and faith in their Coyotes to come through and win it. The kick wasn’t just a 42-yard field goal, it was the culmination of an incredible 17-point comeback. The Coyotes fell behind early, but with brilliant offensive and defensive play in the second half managed to bring themselves within 3 points with 5 minutes to go. The Coyotes then missed a field goal, and I was fairly sure that they weren’t going to get another chance. The defense and offence came through again, setting up a complete team effort game-tying field goal chance. This time, the ball sailed straight through the uprights. Unfortunately, lightning couldn’t strike twice, as the Luchadores took the game on the second possession of overtime, and that diminishes the retrospective magic of the play. In the moment, it was undoubtedly the most magical moment in the game.
Going to Disneyland!
Corvo Havran was the obvious choice for Ultimini MVP. He went 30/52 for 315 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. That sets playoff records for attempts, completions and yards, all in the biggest game of the year. Also, Havran led his team when he was needed the most, throwing a couple of great balls in overtime to lead the Luchadores to victory. Since this is the Ultimini, and not the Ultimus, we cannot send the team to Disney (too expensive), and so they will get a trip to Six Flags instead. There, Corvo will get to hang out with everyone’s favourite mascot Mr. Six. They will dance joyously to the Vengaboys’ We Like to Party, and ride rollercoasters and teacups and see animals and shoot lazers and go up and go down and spin left and spin right and hopefully don’t get eaten by the lions. After that they’ll have a promotional photoshoot with lots of flags on slightly cracked pavement in front of a ride painted with that one colour of green that you can’t quite bring yourself to like. Corvo will go home thinking that he had a good time and he’s glad that he won, but he certainly would rather have hung out with Mickey Mouse on lovely tiled cobblestone in front of a ride painted the most beautiful green you’ve ever seen.
Unsung Hero
The unsung hero of the playoffs is Tijuana Luchadores kicker and punter Stephen Harris Jr. I know that he has already been praised quite a bit for his performances, but I still think that what he achieved is undervalued. Harris went 7/7 on extra points and 6/6 on field goals over the two playoff games, averaging 12.5 points per game. The championship game was won by three points, and Harris scored 12 points for the Luchadores in the game. With any less of a kicker, that could easily have been a loss and we could be talking about the Coyotes as DSFL champions right now. The craziest stat, however, is that during this playoff run, Harris made the two longest field goals in DSFL postseason history. His field goal in the SFC championship game of 56 yards was record-setting. He then followed that up with a 53-yard boot at the end of the first half in the DSFL championship game. Only one other player has kicked a field goal of over 50 yards in the playoffs, and now Harris has done it twice. His incredible kicking work was only complemented by his punting, where he averaged 47 yards per punt. This is one of the greatest postseason kicking displays in DSFL history, and it should be appreciated as such.
This year’s Ultimini Championship game was undoubtedly the best simulation football game I’ve ever seen. I mean it was also one of the only games I’ve ever seen, but it kept me on the edge of my seat and provided fans with great offensive and defensive plays, along with an exciting overtime ending.
The game began with the Tijuana Luchadores’ quarterback Corvo Havran leading the team down the field. Some accurate throws along with an untimely unnecessary roughness call against the Kansas City Coyotes defense led to a first-possession touchdown. The Luchadores defense then stepped up, forcing a three-and-out with a great pass break-up by Con Nair on a short third down throw. The Luchadores didn’t let the opportunity to go up big in the first pass them by, with Havran throwing a bomb to Brett Tacony, and then punching the ball in with Phillip Davis. The Luchadores ended the first quarter up 14-0.
The second quarter began with the first memorable play for any Kansas City fan, a 37-yard catch and run by Django Anoa’i. This set the team up for a short touchdown throw by Rose Jenkins. Suddenly, it seemed we had a game on our hands. However, the Luchadores would quickly crush any glimmer of hope that appeared with a methodical 8-minute drive capped off by a 5-yard Zozo Roronoa touchdown run. Kansas City looked to put some points on the board before the half, but after a three-and-out, along with calling a timeout after being sacked on third down, it was Tijuana who had enough time on the clock to out up another three points to close the half. It seemed like the game was all but over as the teams headed into the tunnel, with the Luchadores up 24-7.
The third quarter could hardly have gone better if you were rooting for Kansas City. After a quick first-possession touchdown due to some solid running from Corwin Davenport, the Coyotes got a timely interception from safety Cam Poole. The resulting short field led to a second touchdown and a one possession game going into the fourth.
The final quarter was a battle of wills, with three huge defensive red-zone stands. It was a great example of bend but don’t break defensive playing from both sides, with key defensive plays from Stayve Jerome Thomas and Johnny Slothface keeping each team out of the end zone. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, a missed game-tying field goal attempt by the Thighmaster, Alfredo Crisco, led to the Luchadores having the ball with 4 minutes left. A great three and out let Crisco get one last shot at the end of the game, and this time the Thighmaster came through, tying the game at 27-27 and sending us to overtime.
Kansas City won the toss and received the ball first, however the offense stalled and after three plays Crisco was back on the field, this time to punt. The Luchadores didn’t let the fact that they almost blew a 17-point lead bother them, and after some solid catches by Knute Knurtsson found themselves in easy field goal range. A 35-yard field goal from Stephen Harris Jr sealed the victory for the Luchadores, their fourth Ultimini Championship.
That Magic Moment
Again, from the Ultimini Championship game, the most magic moment was the final minute field goal by the Kansas City Coyotes to tie the game at 27 and send it to overtime. Kansas City didn’t go on to win the game, but in that moment, I don’t know if a fan in the stadium or at home didn’t have absolute love and faith in their Coyotes to come through and win it. The kick wasn’t just a 42-yard field goal, it was the culmination of an incredible 17-point comeback. The Coyotes fell behind early, but with brilliant offensive and defensive play in the second half managed to bring themselves within 3 points with 5 minutes to go. The Coyotes then missed a field goal, and I was fairly sure that they weren’t going to get another chance. The defense and offence came through again, setting up a complete team effort game-tying field goal chance. This time, the ball sailed straight through the uprights. Unfortunately, lightning couldn’t strike twice, as the Luchadores took the game on the second possession of overtime, and that diminishes the retrospective magic of the play. In the moment, it was undoubtedly the most magical moment in the game.
Going to Disneyland!
Corvo Havran was the obvious choice for Ultimini MVP. He went 30/52 for 315 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. That sets playoff records for attempts, completions and yards, all in the biggest game of the year. Also, Havran led his team when he was needed the most, throwing a couple of great balls in overtime to lead the Luchadores to victory. Since this is the Ultimini, and not the Ultimus, we cannot send the team to Disney (too expensive), and so they will get a trip to Six Flags instead. There, Corvo will get to hang out with everyone’s favourite mascot Mr. Six. They will dance joyously to the Vengaboys’ We Like to Party, and ride rollercoasters and teacups and see animals and shoot lazers and go up and go down and spin left and spin right and hopefully don’t get eaten by the lions. After that they’ll have a promotional photoshoot with lots of flags on slightly cracked pavement in front of a ride painted with that one colour of green that you can’t quite bring yourself to like. Corvo will go home thinking that he had a good time and he’s glad that he won, but he certainly would rather have hung out with Mickey Mouse on lovely tiled cobblestone in front of a ride painted the most beautiful green you’ve ever seen.
Unsung Hero
The unsung hero of the playoffs is Tijuana Luchadores kicker and punter Stephen Harris Jr. I know that he has already been praised quite a bit for his performances, but I still think that what he achieved is undervalued. Harris went 7/7 on extra points and 6/6 on field goals over the two playoff games, averaging 12.5 points per game. The championship game was won by three points, and Harris scored 12 points for the Luchadores in the game. With any less of a kicker, that could easily have been a loss and we could be talking about the Coyotes as DSFL champions right now. The craziest stat, however, is that during this playoff run, Harris made the two longest field goals in DSFL postseason history. His field goal in the SFC championship game of 56 yards was record-setting. He then followed that up with a 53-yard boot at the end of the first half in the DSFL championship game. Only one other player has kicked a field goal of over 50 yards in the playoffs, and now Harris has done it twice. His incredible kicking work was only complemented by his punting, where he averaged 47 yards per punt. This is one of the greatest postseason kicking displays in DSFL history, and it should be appreciated as such.
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